Sri Lanka's [Images] Tamil Tiger rebels have agreed to hold direct talks with the government on strengthening their truce, which was threatened after the assassination of the country's Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.
Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen, who had a meeting with the Tamil Tiger chief negotiator in London [Images] on Thursday, was quoted as saying by the British Broadcasting Corporation on Friday that Tigers have agreed to talk and discuss the ceasefire implementation with the Sri Lankan government.
No dates or a venue had been decided for the fresh talks, but the guerrillas have agreed to a request by President Chandrika Kumaratunga to have direct talks on the truce.
The talks will be the first high-level meeting between the two sides since the peace process stalled in 2003.
The report came as the Sri Lankan parliament extended the state of emergency after the assassination of the foreign minister and Kumaratunga asked Norway to arrange an urgent meeting with Tiger rebels whom she has accused of assassinating Kadirgamar.
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